Method and apparatus for converting heat energy into mechanical energy



March 28, 1939. TURNER 2,151,949

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONVERTING HEAT ENERGY INTO MECHANICAL ENERGY Filed July 50, 1934 s Sheets-Sheet 1 E. T. TURNER 2,151,949 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONVERTING HEAT ENERGY INTO MECHANICAL ENERGY March 28, 1939.

Filed July 30, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 DWA/PD 71' TURNER his 47'7'0FPNEY March 28, 1939. TURNER 2,151,949

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONVERTING HEAT ENE RGY INTO MECHANICAL ENERGY Filed July so, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 u S Q 5 m ATTORNEY March 28, 1939.

4 E. T. TURNER METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONVERTING HEAT 'ENERGY INTO MECHANICAL ENERGY Filed July so, 1954 5 Sheets-*Sheet 4 R. RE mm mm VI W0 M W E March 28, 1939. E. T. TURNER METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONVERTING HEAT ENERGY INTO MECHANICAL ENERGY Filed July 30, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 5' nwavmz {UM/PU z TURNER.

l I I Patented Mar. 28, 1939 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONVERT- ING HEAT ENERGY MECHANICAL ENERGY Edward '1'. Turner, Dayton, Ohio Application-July 30.1934. Serial No. 737,601

31 (Chitin- 40) This invention relates'to a method and apparatus for converting heat energy into me-- chanical energy and the primary object of the invention ist provide an eflicient method of effecting the conversion and to provide a simple,

7 compact and inexpensive apparatus for performing the method.

A further object of the invention. is to pro-' vide a method and means for converting vapor pressure energy into liquid velocity energy and utilizing the velocity energy of the liquid to operate-a power element, such as a water wheel.

A further object of the invention is to provide amethod and means for effecting isothermal expansion of. the vapor in the process of converting vapor pressure energy into liquid velocity energy. 3

A further object of the invention is to provide. such a method and apparatus in which 2 the operation of the power element may be con-- trolled by controlling the application of heat to the apparatus.

A further object of the inventionis'toprovide such a method and apparatuswhich will- 25 require a relatively'small quantity of vapor and in which the condenser may be of correspondingly small capacity.

-. A further object of theinvention is to pro-.-

vide such an apparatus. in which the torque may be modified and the. direction of operationre versed without the use of gears. 7

Other objects of the invention will appear as I the method and apparatus are described in, de-

tail. p

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a liagrammatic illustration of a simple apparatus for performing the more essential steps of themeth-.

0d; Fig; 2 is a side elevation. partly insection,

and partly broken away, of a second form of i i i-apparatus for performing'the method; Fig. 3

is a sectional detail view of a portion of an ap-' paratus in which "the power element comprises a plurality of water wheels; Fig. 4 is a sectional detail view of the nozzle or discharge head for 13 introducing vapor under pressure into the propellant; Fig. its a side elevation'partly in sec tion, and partly broken away, illustrating a modification of the apparatus-in Fig. 2; 6 is a detail view of a portion of an apparatus partly l-O in section, showing a reversible powerelement;

Fig. 7 is a section taken on theline'L-J of Fig.6

and showing'the power elements in elevation;

' andlFig. 8 is, a diagrammatic illustration-of another form of apparatus for performing the S method.

r i In these drawings 1 have illustrated certain forms of apparatus by which my method may be carried out, each form of apparatus contem plating minor changes in the method. It will be understood, however-{that these several ap- 5" paratuses are shown for the purpose of illustra tion only and that various forms of apparatus may be provided-for carrying out themethod.

In carrying out my method I intimately mix vapor under pressure with a liquid propellant, 10

also underpressure, and at a high temperatin'e.

" the temperature of the propellant being preferably equal to or in excess of the temperature of vaporization of the vapor at said pressure, and

pass the mixture through an expansion chamber 16 wherein the pressure energies are converted into velocity energy. The propellant may consist of any suitable substance having a relatively high boiling point, such as oil or mercury, or metal which will fuse at a relatively 'low tempera 20 such as lead or tin. Various vapors are suitable for the purpose but I prefer to employ a liquid which can be vaporized at a temperature substantially less than the boiling point of the pro pellant. The several forms of apparatus here shown contemplate the use of water which is converted into steam. I I wish it to be understood, 7 however, that the term vapor" as herein used is intended to includeany elastic fluid imder.

pressure which is suitable for the intended put.-

pose. Y r

The vapor enters the expansion nozzle at a substantially fixed and predetermined pressure and, of course, expands withinthe chamber to a definite exhaust prsure at the discharge end 3'5 of the chamber, the exhaustv pressure being predetermined,- in part at least, by the shape oif the expansion chamber. The velocity energy or the propellant as it leaves the expansion chamberissuhstantiallyequaltothesumofitsorig- 4 inalpressure energy and the velocity energy irn-.

parted to it bythe expan on of the vapor therein during its passage through the expansion chamber. A

The mass of the propellantwithin the expansion chamber is many times greater than the mass of the vapor.'and,the heat transmitted from the propellant to the vapor the ex pan,-. sion chamber is negli ble as compared to the total heat content of the. propellant therein and 5 0 the temperature drop of the propellant within the expansion chamber will be jnegligible, resuiting in isothermal'e'xpansipn within the expansion chamber.v By properly'proportioning the ratio of the propellant mass to the vapor mass and by properly varying theexpan sion ratio within the expansion chamber it is possible to obtain a very wide range of propellant velocities.

As the finely dispersed propellant leaves the expansion chamber it is passed through a tapered passageway, or "squeezer, which brings the particles of the propellant together en masse without materially reducing their velocity and without trapping any substantial portion of the vapor in the propellant. It then has velocity energy sufllcient to return it to its initial pressure and to provide the power for which the apparatus is designed, there being available for power purposes substantially all the velocity energy imparted to the propellant through the expansion of the vapor within the pressure chamber. Preferably the propellant is circulated through a closed circuit which includes the expansion chamber and the squeezer. and in which the power element is. located, and it is important that the propellant shall be returned to its original pressure. For that purpose a portion only of the velocity energy of the propellant is converted into pressure energy, leaving for power purposes the greater portion of the energy which has been imparted to the propellant through the isothermal expansion of the vapor.

The expanded vapor is separated from the. propellant immediately after the mixture passes out of the expansion chamber and this separated vapor may be again utilized by condensing the same and then vaporizing it. Inasmuch as the vapor at the time of its separation is superheated I prefer to utilize this heat to preheat the condensed vapor prior to 'revaporization of .the same and thus reduce the cost of heat which is required to revaporize the condensed vapor.

The energy oi the propellant may be utilized in various ways, as by causing the same to 0peraie a suitable power element. Such a power element may be of any suitable character and may conveniently be a water wheel, such as a Pelton wheel, which is operated directly by the velocity energy of the liquid: or it may be of the type which is operated by fluid under pressure, such as a turbine, and it would then be preferable to convert all the velocity energy of the propellant into pressure energy; or it may be oi such a character as to utilize both pressure and velocity energy.

In Fig. 1 of the drawings I have shown a very simple apparatus for performing my method in which the liquid propellant is circulated through a circuit including a heater, an expansion chamber and a power element. The heater is shown as a coil of pipe ll arranged above a burner H and connected with the intake of a pump I! by mm of which the liquid is delivered to the upper portion of a receptacle l3 constituting a pressure chamber. Connected with the lower end of thls'pressure chamber is a conduit is which terminates in a nomle-like structure I! which constitutes the expansion chamber, and the outlet end of which is directed toward the power element, here shown as a Pelton wheel ll mounted on a shaft II. .The Pelton wheel and its shaft are arranged above a catchbasin II which is connected by a pipe II with the heating'coil l0.

receptacle or boiler 22 arranged above a heater 23 and connected with a source of water supply by means of a pipe 24 and pump 25. A pipe 26 leads from the upper end of the vaporizer to the upper end of the pressure'chamber l3 and the vapor is delivered to the pressure chamber under high pressure and acts on the liquid propellant which is contained in the pressure chamber, as shown at 21, to force the same through the expansion nozzle it which is so shaped as to convert the pressure energy of the propellant into velocity energy. A branch pipe 28 connected with the vaporizer 22 extends into the conduit l4 and is arranged to discharge vapor under pressure into that conduit and cause the same to be intimately mixed with the propellant therein and in the present arrangement, the vapor is mixed with the propellant just as the latter enters the expansion chamber of the nozzle and the vapor and propellant move together through the nozzle, the vapor expanding as the pressure of the propellant decreases to impart an increased velocity to the propellant. The propellant is thus discharged into the casing 20 and against the blades of the Pelton wheel, and the vapor separates therefrom and escapes through the outlet 2|. While this apparatus will operate in a satisfactory manner it does not have as high an efficiency and is not so well adapted for commercial use as some other forms of apparatus.

In that form of apparatus shown in Fig. 2 the propellant is circulated through and heated in a closed circuit and the vapor is generated within that circuit by the heat of the propellant. In the particular construction illustrated the circuit comprises an enlarged portion or casing 30 forming a pressure chamber which is connected by a conduit 3| with a nozzle structure 32, the discharge end of which opens into the pressure chamber 30 and is directed toward the blades of a Pelton wheel 33, which'is secured to a shaft 34 mounted in the walls of the pressure chamber. The conduit 3| is provided with a heating element here shown as a coil 35 arranged above a burner 36, the operation of which is controlled by a valve 3'! in the fuel supply pipe. The circuit contains a liquid propellant which, as above explained, may be of any suitable character, in such a quantity that when the apparatus is idle the propellant will rise a short distance above the chamber under pressure and acts upon the propellant therein toforce the same through the conduit II and. nozzle structure 32. The nozzle comprises a portion 40 constituting an expansion chamber which is so shaped thatas the propellant flows through the same its pressure energy will be converted into velocityenergy.

Vapor or steam from the pressure chamber may be mixed with the propellant in any suitable manner but in this form of appar'atusa small steam pipe ll leads from the upper portion of the pressure chamber and extends into the conduit II where it is provided with a discharge head 42, which preferably extends into the intake end oi the expansion chamber, so that vapor or steam under pressure is discharged into the expansion chamber along with the propellant and as the pressure' of the propellant decreases the vapor expands and imparts increased velocity energy to the propellant. The discharge head 42 of the steam pipe is preferably in the form of a tapered nozzle having a plurality of series of lateral out:- let ports 43. It is desirable that substantially equal quantities of vapor should be discharged through each of the lateral ports and inasmuch as the pressure of the propellant decreases toward the small end of the nozzle and thus offers less resistance to the passage of the vapor through the ports 43 I have made the ports of progressively decreasing size as they approach the small'end of the nozzle, as shown in Fig. 4.

The nozzle structure is provided beyond the expansion chamber with a discharge portion 44 having a tapered passageway through which the propellant is passed to render the same more compact, as heretofore explained. This discharge portion 'of the nozzle is provided with an enlarged portion adjacent to the outlet for the expansion chamber and as the mixture of propellant and vapor is discharged from the expansion chamber the vapor, which is elastic and has a lower specific gravity than the propellant,

will escape from the propellant into the chamber 45 and pass through a port 46 in the wall of the chamber. Due to the'mass and-inertia of the propellant very little if any of the same will sepa rate from the jet or column of propellant liquid and remain in the separating chamber. However, all the vapor will not thus be separated from the propellant and the squeezer is provided to expel additional vaporfrom the propellant. The

squeezer, which may be of any suitable character,

. is here shown as a tapered passageway and in order that this vapor may reach the port 45 I have made the tapered passageway in a plurality of sections, 41 and 48 -and 49, which are spaced apart so that such vapor as may separate from the propellant during its passage through this tapered passageway may escape between the sections of the passageway and thus flow rearwardly to the port 46. In the particular arrangement here shown the sections 41 and 48 are in the form v "of tapered rings, the ring 48 being of less diameter than the ring- 41, and the third section 49 is formed in the body of the nozzle structure.- The rings 41 and 48 aresupporte'd in alinement one with the other by brackets 50 secured to the nozzle. .j 'The casing 30 in which the power high pressure ,and it is necessary that the pressure of the propellant should at least equal the pressure in the pressure chambenin order that the propellant-may enter the same. I therefore convert a part of the velocity energy of thejpropellant'into pressure energy, this being accomplished by providing'the outlet-from the nozzle with a slight flare. -A very slight flare-will be sufllcient to produce. the desired pressure energy and the flare shown. at 5| is exaggerated for the purpose of illustration.

During the initial heating of the apparatus the water in the pressure chamber 30 will be heated as the temperature of the propellant rises and will be converted into which will be confined within the pressure chamber. When the propellant reaches its normal operating temperature the steam confined within the. pressure chamber will be at high pressure and at high element or Pelton wheel 33 is located contains vapor under temperature and water entering the pressure chamber will be .almost instantaneouslyconverted into steam. During the initial'heating o! the propellant some steam may pass to the nozzle at 5| and will escape from the nozzle and be condensed and returned to the pressure chamber,

as hereinafter described. The amount of steam thus escaping is so small that it does not materially aflect the pressure of the steam on the propellant in the pressure chamber and the pressure in the nozzle being low as compared with the pressure in the pressure chamber the propellant will be forced through the conduit 3| and through the nozzle. As soon as a slig'htpressure. While this drop in pressure may be slight nevertheless it results in the propellant pressure at the intake to the expansion chamber being lower than the steam pressure in the pressure chamber 30. Hence the steam can pass from the pressure chamber through thepipe 4| and nozzle 42 into the propellant. The steam escapes from the nozzle 42 through restricted apertures which throttle the same and cause it to be inti mately mixed with the propellant. The steam which is thus intimately mixed with the propellant expandsisothermally within the expansion chamber to a predetermined exhaust pressure at the discharge end of the chamber, thus causing the propellant to be discharged from that chamber at high velocity. A portion of the velocity energy of the propellant is then converted into pressure energy-to overcome the steam-pressure within the pressure chamber and the propellant is discharged into that chamber and caused to actuate the power element therein.

In Fig. 2 I have shown the approximatelevels of the propellant when the apparatus is in opera- The level of the propellant in the pressure tion. chamber will be lowered from the idle level shown at 38 to approximately the level shown at 38a. The conduit 3! be filled with propellant under pressure containing very little if any steam. As

' the propellant enters the expansion chamber 40 0f the nozzle it is mixed with and expanded within the steam-enteringthrough the nozzle 42 and this mixture, in an expanded condition, will enter the squeezer 41 and'aiter the steam has been separated from the propellantthe latter will be d scharged from the nozzle into the pressure chamber, little or no steam entering the propellant chamber with the propellant. V

The port 46 of the separating-chamber of the nozzle is connected by a conduit 52 with-a receptacle 53,

denser 55. This condenser may be of any suitable character but is here shown merely as a 'coil about which water or air may be circulated. The condenser discharges into a receiver 56 and the condensed vapor or liquid is taken from thereceiver by a pipe 51- and returned to the pressure chamber, where it is againvaporized. In order to inject'the condensed vapor into the pressure chamber, against the high pressure' therein; I

which in turn'is connected at itsupper end'with a conduit 54 leading to a conhave in this form of the apparatus utilized an {76- injector 56 similar to that used for injecting water into a steam boiler. The intake end of this injector is connected by a pipe 59 with the pressure chamber and the discharge end of the injector is connected by a pipe 66 with the pressure chamber. The pipe 51 leading from the receiver 56 for condensed vapor is connected with the injector passageway between the inlet and outlet ends thereof and the passage of steam through said injector withdraws the liquid from the receiver and carries the same into the pressure chamber.- The vapor when separated from the propellant has a temperature approximately equal to that of the propellant and in order that this heat may be utilized to preheat the condensed vapor before the latter is returned to the pressure chamber for revaporization the receptacle 53 is provided between the nozzle 32 and the condenser, and the pipe 66 which conductsthe condensed vapor to the pressure chamber is provided with a coil 6| arranged within the recep tacle 53; Thus the separated vapor passing at high temperature about the coil 6| wil1 preheat the condensed vapor therein, and at the same time the heat given up to the condensed vapor will lower the temperature of the uncondensed vapor, thereby permitting the use of a condenser of relatively small capacity. The preheating of the condensed vapor reduces the cost of the heat necessary to vaporize the same and the use of a condenser of small capacity reduces condensing costs. It is desirable that the condensed vapor in the receptacle 56 should be maintained at a level above the point at which the pipe 5! enters the injector. The receptacle is therefore provided with a sight glass 62 by which any fall in the level of the condensed vapor, due to leakage or otherwise, may be detected and additional liquid supplied through a valve controlled supply pipe 63. q

The power element may consist of a single element, or water wheel, and this element may vary in size but I prefer .to have the water wheel of small diameter and when additional power is desired this may be secured by mounting a plurality of water wheels 64 on a single shaft 65, as shown in Fig. 3, and providing each water wheel with a separate nozzle 66, the several nozzles being preferably connected with the conduit through a manifold or header 61.

In Fig. 5 I have illustrated a modification of the apparatus shown in Fig. 2, in which the condensed vapor or liquid is mixed with the liquid propellant as the latter leaves the pressure chamber. As there shown, the circuit is substantially similar to that shown in Fig. 2, and comprises a casing 68 forming a pressure chamber which is connected by a conduit 69 with a nozzle struc ture Ill. The conduit 69 is provided with means for heating the propellant therein, which is not shown but which may be similar to that shown in Fig. 2. In this form of the apparatus it is preferable that the specific gravity of the p13)- pellant shall be equal to or less than the specific gravity of the condensed vapor or liquid, such as oil and water, and the condensed vapor or liquid which is delivered to the pressure chamber will be mixed with and drawn into the propellant as the latter enters the conduit 69. When the pressure in the chamber 66 is equal to or above the pressure corresponding I to the temperature of vaporization, liquid may be retained in the chamber in liquid form. The temperature of a volatile liquid in the chamber 68 will be substantially equal to the temperature of the propellant. The

pressure in the chamber will be that pressure which corresponds to a temperature of vaporization equal to the temperature of the liquid, and, for example, with a propellant temperature of five hundred degrees in the chamber, the pressure therein will be about 740 pounds and the liquid will be vaporized only to an extent sufficient to maintain that pressure. The propellant and the liquid entering the chamber are thoroughly intermixed or dispersed one within the other, due to the turbulence within the chamber caused by the entering propellant and the action of the water wheel, and influenced to some extent by the entering liquid. Therefore the greater part of the liquid will be carried with the propellant into the conduit 69. However, the propellant being under pressure the liquid thus mixed therewith is prevented from vaporizing. As the propellant flows through the conduit there will be a tendency toward a slight decrease in its pressure, due to frictional losses, which will permit a slight vaporization of the liquid in the propellant. and when the propellant, with the liquid therein, is delivered to the expansion chamber II of the nozzle the remainder of the liquid will be vaporized and the vapor will expand and impart velocity energy to the propellant in the manner above described.

In the construction shown in Fig. 2 the nozzle is in open communication with the pressure chamber and during the initial heating of the propellant, and before suflicient pressure has been developedto operate the apparatus, some vapor may escape from the pressure chamber into the nozzle. However, the vapor so escaping in the nozzle will be small in amount and will be returned through the condenser to the pressure chamber. In Fig. 5 means are provided for preventing the fiow of vapor in a reverse direction through the nozzle and for that purpose the discharge portion of the nozzle has been somewhat lengthened and provided with a check valve 12 which is held normally on its seat by a light spring 13 which holds the same closed until the pressure and/or velocity in the nozzle is sufilcient to open the same, and then permits it to open. Thus no steam can escape from the pressure chamber during the initial heating of the apparatus but as soon as any' substantial pressure is created in the pressure chamber the check valve will open and permit the apparatus to operate in the manner set forth. It will be noted that the check valve is arranged beyond the squeezer, comprising' the separated sections ll of the tapered passageway for. the propellant, and the nozzle is provided in advance of the check valve with a flared passageway 15 which converts the velocity energy, or a substantial part thereof, into pressure energy, which opens the valve and permits the passage of the propellant to a taperedportion 15a of the nozzle structure which reeonverts a portion of the pressure energy into velocity energy and discharges the propellant against the Pelton wheel.

The vapor which is separated from the propellant in the nozzle passes through a return'pipe ing provided with a coil 80 arranged in the receptacle 11 for the purpose of preheating the condensed vapor. The pump 8i may be operated by any suitable motor, such as a fluid operated motor or steam engine 84 which is supplied with steam from the pressure chamber through a pipe 85 and is connectedb'y a pipe 06 with the receptacle 1-1,- so that the exhaust steam will pass.

through the receptacle 11 to the condenser and will be thus condensed and returned tothe presoi the apparatus of Fig. 5, with the addition of the reversing feature. The power element-comprises two water wheels 81 and 88 mounted on a single shaft 09 which is mounted in the enlarged portion or casing 90 of a conduit l0l, this casing and the adjacent portion of the conduit constituting the pressure chamber. The two water wheels, whichare here shown as Pelton wheels, have their blades facing'in opposite directions and separate nozzles 9| and 92 are mounted to discharge-into the pressure chamber and are so arranged that the nozzle 9| will discharge against the blades of the wheel 81 while the nozzle 92 will discharge against the blades of the wheel 88. Of course, only one nozzle is utilized at one time and therefore the conduit I! is provided with branches93 and 94 leading respectively to the nozzles ill and 92 and each branch is provided with a alve 95 to control the flow of the propellant therethrough. Thus the direction of operation of the power element may be determined by til opening one valve 95 and closing the other. The

nozzles may be of any suitable type but are here shown as of the same type as in Fig. 5 and each includes an expansion chamber I-II, an enlarged portion I14, a tapered passageway I15 and a check valve I72, and, if desired, may also be provided with a'squeezer, That portion of the conduit betweena the pressure chamber and the branches 93 and 94 is provided with means for heating the liquid therein, such as the coil and heater shown in Fig. 2, and the operation will be similar to that of thearrangement shown in Fig. 5.

In Fig. 8 I have illustrated a form of apparatus for carrying out my method in which the propeliant is discharged from the nozzle under pressure.

- As here shown, the apparatus comprises a conduit I00, the end portions IM and I02 of which are arranged in upright positions, and substantially parallel one with the other. The upper ends of thev two upright portions IN and I02 are turned laterally one toward the other, as shown at I03 and I00, 'I'he conduitv also comprises a third upright portion I05 which is here shown as arranged between the end portions Hand in open communication therewith. The conduit contains a liquid propellant in such quantity that when the apparatus is idle the-\propellant will rise in the .upright portions IOI, I02 and I05 of the conduit toa level slightly below the top of the portion I05, as shown at I05, and this portion I05 constitutes the pressure chamber of the appara- In this form of apparatus the'propellant is not heated directlylwithin the conduit but is with:

drawn from the conduit, heated and their returned to the-conduit. For this purpose I have connected with the upright portion I M of the ccnduit a relatively small pipe I01 having therein the propellant within the portion of the nozzle,

a heating coil I00 arranged above the burner I00 and which is connected with a pump 0. The discharge side of the pump is connected by a pipe III with the'conduit at a point beyond the point of connection ofthe pipe I01 with the upright- 5 portion i0I. The action of the pump will withdraw the propellant from the conduit, cause the same to pass through'the heating element I00 and then return the same to the conduit, thus heating conduit and tending to circulate the propellant through the conduit or circuit. The upper ends of the upright portions NH and I02 are connected one to the other by a nozzle structure 2 which has a part 3 connected with the end I04 of the upright portion 15 I02 and forming an expansion chamber in which the pressure energy of the propellant will be converted into velocity energy. The other end as shown at his connected with the upper end I03 01' the upright portion IM and is shaped to convert the velocity energy of the propellant into pressure energy and to deliver the propellant under pressure to the upper end of the upright portion I0l Mounted in the upper end of .the upright portion IN is a power 2 element, here shown as a turbine of a known construction, which comprises a stationary element 7 H5 and a rotary element H6 rigidly secured to a shaft II! which extends through the wall oithe upright portion IM and is mounted in a bearing: 30 H8. A check valve 9 prevents the flow of pro- :pellant fromthe upright portion .IOI into the right portion I05 of the conduit, which con- 'stitutes the pressure. chamber, and the vapor,

which is delivered to the pressure chamber above the liquid therein, exerts pressure on the liquid propellant and forces the same out of the pressure chamber into the two upright portions IN and I02 of the conduit, thereby substantially 1111- mg these upright portions with the propellant. The branch I20 of the vapor pipe I22 discharges into the expansion chamber N3 of the nozzle so that the vapor under pressure is mixed with the propellant and expands in the expansion chamber to impart increased velocity to the propellant.

The vapor is separated from the propellant in the nozzle H2, in the manner above described, passed through a pipe I25 to a preheating chamher or receptacle I20, the upper end ofwhich is connected with a condenser I277. The discharge end of the condenser is connected with a receiver I20 and a pipe I20 leads from the lower end of the receiver I28 to a pump I30 from which it is delivered to the pipe I2I which supplies the o5 condensed vapor or liquid to the boiler I20: This por within and about said propellant and con energy and this pressure energy is delivered to the turbine to operate the latter in a well known manner.

It will be understood that many of the details shown in the diflerent apparatuses illustrated may, if desired, be used in some or all of the other forms of the apparatus.

The pumps which are shown in connection with the several forms of the apparatus may be operated from any suitable source'of power, not

here shown.

While I have shown and described my method and certain forms of apparatus for performing the same I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the details shown and described as various modifications in the method and in the apparatus may occur to a person skilled in the art.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The method of converting heat and pressure energy into mechanical energy which comprises mixing vapor under pressure with a propellant under high pressure, expanding said vaverting propellant and vapor pressure and heat energies into propellant velocity energy, and converting said propellant velocity energy into pressure energy and into mechanical energy.

2. The method 01 converting heat and pressure energy into mechanical energy which comprises mixing vapor under pressure with a propellant under high pressure, isothermally expanding said vapor within and about said propellant and converting propellant and vapor pressure and heat energies into propellant velocity energy, and converting said propellant velocity energy into pressure energy and into mechanical energy.

3. The method of converting heat and pressure energy into mechanical energy which comprises mixing vapor under pressure with a propellant under high pressure, expanding said vapor within and about said propellant and converting propellant and vapor pressure and heat energies into propellant velocity energy, separating expanded vapor from the propellant, and converting said propellant velocity energy into pressure energy and into mechanical energy.

4. The method of converting heat and pressure energy into mechanical energy which comprises mixing vapor under pressure with a propellant under high pressure, isothermally expanding said vapor within and about said propellant and converting propellant and fluid pressure and heat energies into propellant velocity energy, separating expandedfluid from said propellant, and converting said propellant velocity energy into pressure energy and into mechanical energy.

5. The method 01' converting pressure energy into mechanical energy which comprises'subjecting a power element and a propellant to the pressure of an elastic fluid in a circuit, then mix'-' ing said propellant with said fluidat a reduced pressure, then converting said fluid pressure energy and said propellant pressure energy into propellant velocity energy, and then utilizing velocity energy to restore said propellant to said fluid pressure and to operate said power element.

6. The method of converting heat energy-into propellant velocity energy which comprises i ing a relatively small quantity of liquid with a relatively large quantity of heated propellant under pressure, said propellant having a relatively high temperature of vaporization, then reducing the pressure of said mixture and transmitting heat ironrsaid propellant to said liquid, vaporizing said liquid and expanding said vapor within and about said propellant to increase the velocity energy of said propellant. V v

7. The method of converting heat energy into mechanical energy which comprises mixing a relatively small quantity of liquid with a relatively large quantity of heated propellantunder pressure, then reducing the pressure of said mixture and transmitting heat from said propellant to said liquid, vaporizing said liquid, converting vapor expansion energy into propellant energy, and subsequently.converting propellant energy into mechanical energy. V

8. The method of producing power which comprises heating a propellant under pressure, transmitting heat from said propellant to a liquid to vaporize said liquid under pressure, converting the pressure of said vapor into vapor propellant velocity energy and converting said velocity energy into mechanical energy.

9. The method of converting pressure energy into mechanical energy which comprises mixing an elastic liquid under pressure with propellant under high pressure, then causing said fluid to expand within and about said propellant and converting fluid and propellant energies into propellant velocity energy at a reduced pressure, then separating expanded fluid from the propellant, converting a portion of said propellant velocity energy into pressure energy and converting another portion of said velocity energy into mechanical energy at a pressure in excess of the pressure at which said propellant is mixed with 1,0. The method of converting pressure energy into mechanical energy which comprises mixing an elastic fluid under pressure with a propellant under pressure, causing said fluid to expand within and about said propellant and converting fluid and propellant pressure energies into propellant velocity energy, utilizing a portion of said velocity energy to create pressure energy, and converting another portion of said velocity energy into mechanical energyat a pressure in excess of said propellant energy.

11. The method of converting pressure energy into mechanical energy which comprisessubjecting a propellant to the pressure of a fluid to cause the same to flow through a closed circuit from a higher pressure to a lower pressure within said circuit, introducing an elastic fluid under pressure into said circuit and mixing the same with said propellant at said lower pressure, causing said fluid to expand in said propellant to impart velocity energy thereto, converting at least aportion of said velocity energy into pressure energy, utilizing said pressure energy to introduce said propellant into a chamber containing a fluid under pressure and converting the remaining energy of said propellant into mechanical energy in said chamber.

12. The method of converting heat and pres sure energy into mechanical energy which comprises heating a liquid propellant in a circuit, subjecting a liquid to the heat of said propellant to convert said liquid into vapor under pressure, subjecting said propellant to the pressure of said vapor to cause said propellant to flow through said circuit, mixing a portion of said vapor under pressure with said propellant to impart inutilizing the velocity energy of said propellant to actuate a power element.

13. The method oi. converting heat and pressure energy into mechanical energy which comprises heating liquid propellant in a circuit, subjecting a liquid to the heat oi. said propellant to convert the liquid into vapor under pressure, subjecting said propellant to the pressure ofsaid locity energy to said propellant, converting a portion of the velocity energy of said propellant into pressure energy, and utilizing the remaining energy of said propellant to actuate a power elevapor to cause said propellant to flow through said circuit, mixing a portion of said vapor under pressure with said propellant, expanding said vapor in said propellant to impart increased vement.

14. The method of converting heat and pressure energy into liquid kinetic energy which comprises mixing an elastic fluid under pressure with aheated propellant under pressure, isothermally expanding said elastic fluid within and about said propellant to 'a lower pressure, separating said elastic fluid from said propellant, converting pro-- pellant energy into mechanical energy, condensing said elastic fluid, passing condensed fluid in heat exchange relation to elastic fluid after-it has been separated from said propellant and. prior to its condensation to extract superheat from said separated elastic fluid and preheat said condensed fluid, vaporizing said condensed fluid into an elastic fluid under pressure, and then again mixing the same with said propellant.

15. In a power apparatus, means for circulating liquid propellant under pressure through a means for converting a portion of said velocity energy'into propellant pressure energy and for converting another portion of said velocity ener-- gy. into mechanical 'energy.

16. In a power apparatus, means for maintaining a propellant ata relative high pressure and temperature, means for mixing a relatively small quantity 'of volatile liquid with said propellant at said pressure, means for reducing the pressure on said mixture, vaporizing said liquid and converting vapor energy into propellant energy, and means for converting propellant energy into mechanical energy. 1

17. In a power apparatus, a circuit for liquid propellant including a pressure chamber, a power element within said chamber, means for subjecting the propellant in said chamber and said po er element to the pressure of an elastic fluid, means for mixing a portion of said fluid with said propellant under pressure to convert the pressure energy of said fluid into propellant velocity energy at a reduced pressure,'and means for utilizing the propellant energy to operate said power element. a

18. In a power apparatus, a circuit for liquid propellant including a pressure chamber, a power element in said chamber, a mixing compartment and an expansion nozzle in said circuit, for

--snbiecting said power elementand the propellant in said chamber to the pressure of an. elastic fluid and for causing said propellant to flow from said pressure chamber to said mixing chamber and said expansion nomle, means for mixing-elastic fluid with said propellant in said mixing compartment and converting fluid pressure energy into propellant. velocity energy in said expansion nozzle, and means for operating said power element with propellant energy.

19-'-In a power apparatus, a circuit for a liquid propellant including a chamber, a power element in said chamber, means for maintaining pressure in said chamber and subjecting saidpower element and the propellant in said chamber to said pressure, means for introducing an elastic fluid under pressure into said circuit, means for conver-ting fluid energy into propellant velocity energy, means for separating fluid from said propellant at .a relativelylow pressure, and means beyond said separating means for. causing said propellant to operate said power element.

20. In a power apparatus, a circuit for a liquid propellant including achamber, a power element in said chamber, means for maintaining pressure in said chamber and subjecting said power element and the propellant in said chamber to said pres-' 20 sure, means for introducing an elastic fluid under pressure into said circuit, means for converting fluid and propellant pressure energies into propellant velocity energy at a reduced pressure, and

-means for utilizing said velocity energy to cause said propellant to enter said chamber and operate said power element.

21. In a power apparatus, a circuit for a liquid r propellant including a chamber, a power element in said chamber, means for maintaining pressure in said chamber and subjecting said power element and the propellant in said chamber to said pressure, means for mixing an elastic fluid with saidpropellant and for then expanding said fluid within and about said propellant to convert fluid and propellant pressure energies into propellantvelocity energy at a reduced pressure, means for then separating expanded fluid from said propellant, and means beyond said separating means for utilizing said velocity energy to cause said propellant to reenter said chamber and to operate said power element.

' 22. In a power apparatus, a circuit for a liquid propellant including a chamber, a power element in said chamber, means for maintaining pressure in said chamber and subjecting said power element and the propellant in said chamber to said pressure, means for introducing an elastic fluid under pressure into said circuit, means for converting fluid and propellant pressure energies into propellant velocity energy, means for utilizing a portion of said velocity energy to create pressure energy, and means for utilizing another portion of said velocity energy to operate said power element.

23'. In a power apparatus, a circuit for a liquid propellant including a chamber, a power element in said chamber, means for maintaining pressure in said chamber and subjecting said power element and the propellant in said chamber to said pressure, means for introducing an elastic fluid under pressure into said circuit, means for converting fluid and propellant pressure energies into propellant velocity energy, means for utilizing said velocity energy to create pressure energy, and

said pressure, means for introducing an elastic fluid under pressure into 'said circuit and for mixing said elastic fluid with said propellant at substantially said propellant pressure and conseparating chamber, a power element in said pressure chamber, means for maintaining pressure within said pressure chamber and subjecting said power element andthe propellant in said chamber to said pressure, means for introducing an elastic fluid under pressure into said circuit, means for mixing said fluid with said propellant in said mixing compartment, causing said mixture to flow through said expansion nozzle and expanding said fluid therein to convert fluid energy into propellant velocity energy, means for separating expanded fluid from said propellant in said separating chamber at a relatively low pressure, and means beyond said separating,

means for utilizing propellant energy to operate said power element.

26. In a power apparatus, a pressure chamber adapted to receive a liquid propellant, a mixing compartment, an expansion chamber, a separating chamber and a compression nozzle connected one with the other in the order named and connected with said pressure chamber, a power element'in said pressure chamber, means for maintaining pressure in said pressure chamber'and for causing said propellant to flow from said pressure chamber to said mixing compartment, means for mixing an elastic'fluid with said propellant in said mixing compartment, causing said mixture to' .flow through said expansion chamber to expand said fluid therein and convert fluid energy into propellant velocity energy and to then flow through said separating chamber to separate expanded fluid iromsaid propellant and for causing said propellant to flow through said compression nozzle to convert propellant velocity energy into pressure energy and to cause said propellant to operate said power element. 2'7. In a power apparatus, a circuit for a liqui propellant including a pressure chamber, a mix ing compartment, an expansion nozzle, a separating chamber and a compression nozzle, ,a

power element in said pressure chamber, means for -maintaining pressure within said pressure chamber and subjecting the propellant therein and said power element to said pressure and for causing said propellant to flow from said pressure chamber through said circuit, means for mixing an elastic fluid with said propellant in said mixing compartment and causing said mix-- ture to flow through said expansion nozzle to expand said fluid therein and convert fluid and propellant pressure energies into propellant velocity energy at a reduced pressure, and to then cause said mixture to flow through said separating chamber to separate expanded fluid from said propellant and then through said compression nozzle to convert propellant velocity energy ,and for causing said propellant to flow from said pressure chamber to said mixing compartment and said expansion nozzle. means for mixing an elastic fluid under pressure with said propellant in said mixing compartment at substantially said propellant pressure and for converting the pressure energy of said fluid into propellant energy at a lower pressure in said expansion nozzle, and means for utilizing said propellant energy for operating said power element.

29. In a power apparatus, a circuit for liquid propellant including means for mixing an elastic fluid under pressure with a propellant under pressure, means for converting the energy of said fluid into propellant velocity energy, and means'for converting a portion of said propellant velocity energy into pressure energy and for converting another portion thereof into mechanical energy at a pressure in excess 01' the pressure at which said propellant is mixed with said fluid.

30. In a power apparatus, a circuit for a liquid propellant including means for mixing elastic fluid under pressure with a propellant under pressure, means for causing said fluid to expand within and about said propellant and converting fluid and propellant pressure energies into velocity energy, means for utilizing said velocity energy to create pressure ener y. and means for converting a portion of said pressure energy into mechanical energy at a pressure in excess of the pressure at which said propellant is mixed with said fluid. I

31. In a power apparatus, a circuit for -a liquid propellant, means for maintaining a propellant in said circuit at a high temperature and for heating a liquid to generate vapor under pressure and for subjecting the propellant in said circuit to the pressure of said vapor to cause said propellant to flow through said circuit, means for mixing a portion of said vapor under pressure with said propellant and causing said vapor to be superheated and to expand'isothermally in and about said propellant to convert pressure energy into propellant velocity energy, means for separating expanded superheated vapm from said propellant, a power element arranged to be actuated by said propellant, a condenser, a conduit leading from said separating means to said condenser, an injector connected with said condenser to receive condensed vapor therefrom, and a return conduit connecting said injector with said heating means and having a part arranged in the first mentioned conduit.

EDWARD T. TURNER. 

